The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1887-05-20
THE FATAL GAS.
THE MANKAT0 GAS WORKS THE
SCENE OF ANOTHER AOOI-
DENT.
Mr.. ]. A. Presley, Jr., Meets His Death.

the terrible affair The particulars ale
in many features similar to those which
attended the calamity which overlook
the late o. c. McCurdy less than month
ago. The two occurrences coming at
such short intervals would seem to indi-
cate that due care has not been taken at
the works lately to prevent such acct
dents. Steps should certainly be taken
at once to provide against any further
trouble of the kind.
/ HOW IT HAPPENED.
| A reporter visited the gas works this
morning and elected the following ac-
count of the accident from interviews
with such employees of the company as
were about at the time. Mr.. Ii. B.
Hemphill, the engineer, was the only
one in the building at the time of the
accident, and consequently most of the
facts were obtained from him. 1t seems
that Mr.. HemphiIl and Mr.. Presley were
working in and about the engine room
just previous to the latter's entrance into
the fatal hole. AS was the custom, MIR.
Presley went down into small apart
ment under the purifying room and re-
moved a plug from the drlp-pipe for the
purpose of allowing the tar which had
accumulated during the day to run out.
This is known among gas men as Gun
sealing" the pipe. Mr.. Presley may
have remained in this place for ten min
utes, while the pipe was being cleaned
out, thing he should not have done
| under any circumstances, as gas con-
stantly escapes during this operation. At
its completion, he replaced the plug
and assembled. About this time Mr..
Hemphill noticed that large amount
of gas had escaped and remarked to
Joe" that he must have let out consld-
cradle. Presley made some indistinct
reply but was very pale, and contrary to
his usual custom, seemed to act very in
different. Mr.. HemphIll now thinks
that "JOe" was under the influence of
this gas when.he came up, but he did not
notice it so much at the time, as he was
very busy with the purifier. Mr.. Pres
icy tHcu SuttICu ihC uCAb Tile Olu
meter room, and ill few moments lifted
the trap door and descended into similar
apartment near to the one where Nc
Curdy met his death. There are several
of these places under the rooms of the
gas works, which are used to communl-
cate with the drip-pipes. Before going
down into one of them to remove the
cap, the gas should be shut off, otherwise
1t will escape in great quantities. Mr..
Presley evidently forgot to shut off the
least failed to do so effectually.
This may be accounted for by the
fact that he was greatly under the influ-
ence of the gas already. He descended
result is known. Mr.. Hemphlll was
carrying pals of water from the engine
room into the meter room at the time.
He noticed that Mr.. Presley was gone,
but thought everything was all right.
When carrying the second pailful after
Presley's disappearance, he noticed
that the holder, which was previously
full, had lowered greatly and indicated
that thousands of feet of gas had escap-
ed. He then examined the meter to see
if that correspondent with the holder.
This he found to be the fact. He then
surmised what was the trouble and 60
ing to the the trap, called to Presley,
who was sitting at the bottom apparently
as though nothing was the matter. As
he did not reply, he thought that per-
haps Presley was fooling him, as others
had done, and repeated his call. Again
receiving no reply, he realized that a
terrible accident had occurred. As Mr..
Presley is heavy man, Mr.. Hemphill
knew he could not remove him alone
without being himself overcome, so he
called on several passers-by and with
their assistance lifted the unfortunate
man out. Presley at this time presented
every appearance of being lifeless. Re
membering what the doctor had done
when McCurdy was taken out in simI-
lar condition, Mr.. Hemphill followed the
same course and finally succeeded IN
bringing few spadmodic breaths from
the body. BY this time assistance had
arrived and the unconscious Presley
was conveyed to his home. Mr.. Hemp
hill thinks that Presley may have been
in the trap for seven or eight minutes.
The removal of the cap left quite large
escape open and 1000 feet of gas rushed
| ont i'm about tan minufpS
The workmen at the gas works cannot
conceive why Presley should have en-
tered the trap without first shutting off
the gas, unless as before stated, he was
strongly affected by the gas which es-
capped from the first drip pipe.
Both Mr.. Hemphill and Mr.. Jud Pow
ell have been under the influence of the
gas and state that the effect is nearly in
Simultaneous. The first feeling is one of
numbness which is succeeded.by one of
recklessness and indifference and absent
mindednesses. The effects lasted for
about two days in the cases of these gem
| tlemen. " ... E
The employees do not consider the
Mankato Gas Works any more danger,
GUS or more loosely constructed than the
works of any other city. They say that
with ordinary carefulness there is no
danger. ......
| Mr.. Presley has owned an interest in
the works for the past eighteen months
and was familiar with the workings,
Mr.. Jud Powell was to have taken charge
of the works as soon as Mrs. McCurdy
could be heard from, but owing to the
accident he will assume charge to-day.
Ills CONDITION THIS AFTERNOON.
This afternoon Mr.. Presley still lies in
very critical condition. Heis but slight
ly more conscious than he was this
morning and the chances appear to be
rather against his recovery. He has
been unconscious most of the time but
at periods has been so delerious as to
make it necessary to hold him in bed, the
sufferer has not talked any, although he
at times give signs of recognition. Drs.
Warner and Davis are ia attendance
constantly and are doing everything in
their power to save the life of the unfor-
tunate man. They remained at his bed
side throughout last night.
| The thing most feared is that brain
fever may set in.